HRCC Mayor Cr Brian Klowss has today written to Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny seeking immediate changes to the Horsham Planning Scheme, following an amendment which has introduced incorrect planning overlay mapping.
The amendment relates to the WIM Base Area (WBA), which forms part of the Avonbank Mineral Sands Project. The amendment has been prepared by the Minister for Planning, who is the planning authority on this occasion.
WIM Resource Pty Ltd requested the amendment to allow for provisions that facilitate mineral sands processing and other infrastructure required to support the Avonbank Mineral Sands Project. The amendment does this by introducing an Incorporated document into the planning scheme and applying the Specific Controls Overlay (SCO) to the WBA.
“I have written to the Planning Minister today to draw her attention to what can only be described as a serious mapping error” Cr Klowss said.
“The area shown in the Overlay map is double the size of the area identified in the Incorporated Document and importantly, the area exhibited by WIM Resource as part of the Avonbank Mineral Sands Project Environment Effects Statement in 2023.”
Planning Schemes Online indicates that the Planning Authority decision was made on Wednesday 28 October 2026, just a few days before the state election caretaker period.
Council became aware of the amendment on 12 November when the amendment was advertised in the government gazette.
“Council was not given an opportunity to review the final amendment documentation before approval was granted.
Yet again, Council has not been consulted and has been kept at arms distance from the process. Had we have been given an opportunity to review the maps we would have likely picked up the error, helping the state government avoid embarrassment.”
“Many in the community have already lost faith in the Environmental Effects Statement (EES) process. If the incorrect Special Control Overlay mapping is allowed to remain for any period in the Horsham Planning Scheme, this will further undermine the EES process.”
“Council is working hard to attract a range of agricultural manufacturing projects to its Wimmera Agricultural and Logistics Hub Precinct. The additional land, incorrectly covered by the Special Control Overlay precludes industries not associated with the Avonbank mining project and this is not good for the region,” Cr Klowss explained.
“I am concerned that mistakes such that have occurred with this mapping anomaly, send the wrong message to project proponents and the community.”
“The expansion of the SCO area creates uncertainty for proponents who want to locate their projects in this part of the WAL Hub precinct if they aren’t related to the Avonbank Mineral Sands Project, placing the region at a disadvantage,” Cr Klowss said.
“The recent decision by the Minister for Resources to include the Council owned, Wimmera Intermodal Freight Terminal within the Avonbank mining licence, is as equally perplexing as this current mapping anomaly of C84.”
“The Environmental Effects Statement clearly states that the mining product will not be utilising rail. WIM Resource can give no reason as to why they need a licence over this community owned asset on Council freehold land, so I’m scratching my head,” Mayor Klowss explained.
“The current situation sends the impression that this state government wants Mineral Sands Mining and Processing to dominate the precinct at the expense of other suitable proposals establishing or gaining equitable access to rail.
This approach is not supported by Council or the Horsham community and may discourage other project proponents from investing.”
“These actions by the state government continue to contribute and fuel the anxiety, divisiveness and mistrust that many in the Horsham community have with the Avonbank Mineral Sands project.
It’s important as a community that we continue to speak up on these matters and get them rectified,” he said.
